Background to Cornish and the 2011 Census

In the 2011 Census the three questions that apply to ‘Cornish’ were:

15. What is your national identity?

16. What is your ethnic group?

18. What is your main language ?

The 2011 Census was the first to enable people to identify themselves as Cornish under the White: British category, by writing in the word 'Cornish'. It was also the first time that people could record their language as Cornish, again as a write-in option.

Anyone who recorded their national identity or language as Cornish using the write-in option were coded, alongside anyone who recorded themselves as both British and Cornish (the national identity question allows for multiple identification).

During the Census period the Council put together a poster containing information on how people could complete their forms with 'Cornish' should they wish to do so.

73,200, or 14% of the total population, stated in the 2011 Census that they have Cornish national identity

The 2011 Census was the first to enable people to identify themselves as Cornish under the White: British category, by writing in the word 'Cornish'. It was also the first time that people could record their language as Cornish, again as a write-in option.

Anyone who recorded their national identity or language as Cornish using the write-in option were coded, alongside anyone who recorded themselves as both British and Cornish (the national identity question allows for multiple identification).

During the Census period the Council put together a poster containing information on how people could complete their forms with 'Cornish' should they wish to do so.